Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A petty fellow; an inferior agent; an underling.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A petty fellow; an inferior agent; an underling.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Any underling or inferior in office.
  • noun A freelance operator for MI5.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Mark Hoban, a George Osborne understrapper and financial secretary to the Treasury, who does not inspire confidence.

    Greek crisis: The Tory plan is... there isn't one 2011

  • "I suppose you've received information, by bush-telegraph, that that third assistant understrapper and ex-sailorman at Tulagi is going to deport me as an undesirable immigrant."

    Chapter 9 2010

  • Mark Hoban, a George Osborne understrapper and financial secretary to the Treasury, who does not inspire confidence.

    Greek crisis: The Tory plan is... there isn't one 2011

  • So the matter was put in the hands of Mark Hoban, an Osborne understrapper and financial secretary to the Treasury.

    Greek crisis: The Tory plan is... there isn't one 2011

  • Them is only one white man, a third assistant understrapper and ex - sailor -- a common sailor.

    Chapter 6 2010

  • So the matter was put in the hands of Mark Hoban, an Osborne understrapper and financial secretary to the Treasury.

    Greek crisis: The Tory plan is... there isn't one 2011

  • I had married a wife, and could not submit to be an understrapper to a physician.

    History of American Women Maggiemac 2009

  • By the industry of his understrapper, he procured a number of old crazy fiddles, which were thrown aside as lumber; upon which he counterfeited the

    The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom 2004

  • Nor did this well-instructed understrapper omit those other parts of her cue which the principal judged necessary for the furtherance of his scheme.

    The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom 2004

  • Having thus profitably exercised his genius, this subtle politician thought it high time to relinquish his military expectations, and securing all his valuable acquisitions about his own person, rode out with his understrapper, in the midst of fifty dragoons, who went in quest of forage.

    The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom 2004

Comments

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  • "An inferior in any office, or department."

    - Francis Grose, 'The Vulgar Tongue'.

    September 9, 2008

  • A petty fellow, underling.

    June 14, 2010

  • "...his understrapper, according to his instructions, came afterwards to the inn..."

    — Smollett, Peregrine Pickle

    May 2, 2022